Eichaed peice moegan



(N0 Model R. P. MORGAN, Jr.

RAILWAY RAIL JOINT.

Patented Apr. 22,1884.

Wiirzesses UNITE Smarts ATIJNT FFIQEQ RICHARD PRICE MORGAN, JR, OFDWIGHT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MORGAN RAIL-JOINT COMPANY, OF SAMEPLACE.

RAILWAY-RAIL JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,283, dated April22,1884. Application til ed December 1, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD PRIcE MOR- G-AN, J r., a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Dwight, in the county of Livingston, State ofIllinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway-Bail Joints,of which I. do hereby declare=the following to be afull, clear, and exact description, suficient to enable others skilledin the art to which said improvements appertain to make and use thesame.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters ofreference designate like parts throughout, Figure l is an outside viewof two abutting track-rails and of the improved joint for connectingthem together. Fig. 2 is a similar inside View; Fig. 3, a detached Viewin plan, and Fig.4, a front end elevation of the parts constituting theclamp for said joint. Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-section views on lines 00and 3 respectively, of Fig. 1, to illustrate the nature ofthe sub-rail.

The present invention is designed to improve the construction of therail-joint set forth in Letters Patent N 0. 280,654, issued to me July3, 1883; and it consists of certain peculiarities in structure andorganization of the parts, which will first be fully described, andthereafter distinctly pointed out in claims following.

Beneath the abutting ends of the track-rails A, which are spiked to thecross-ties B, as usual, is arranged a sub-rail, O, the same beingformed, preferably, from Worn or scrap track-rail out in lengthssuitable to be sustained upon the cross-ties B adjacent to the joint.The head of the piece oftrack-rail to constitute the sub-rail O isswaged down at the ends, as shown, these flattened bearing ends tosupport the sub-rail being received within the rabbeted seats a, cut inthe cross-ties B. The sub-rail 0, when thus in position, has its upperface flush against the track-rails, so that a firm support of rigid andunyielding charac-' ter is presented for the abutting ends of saidtrack-rails, while by reason of the swaging of the ends of the sub-rail,as described, a corresponding reduction in the depth of the rabbet-s inthe cross-ties is accomplished over what was necessary in my formerpatent, which reduction in depth of cut preservesthe strength anddurability of said cross-ties.

The clamp for securing the track and sub rails together consists of aloose jaw-piece, d, angularly cut to receive the adjoining webs of saidrails, and provided about its exterior face with agroove or recess, intowhich sets the U-staple e. The jaw-piece may preferably be of cast-ironor steel for cheapness and durability, while the staple may be ofwroughtiron or steel, as desired.

In applying the clamp the jaw-piecedis set against the outer adjoiningwebs of the track and sub rails, so as to lap over and under the same.The ends of the U-staple are passed through suitable holes in said trackand subrails, respectively, until the body of said staple bears snuglywithin the groove of the jaw-piece d,whereupon,by means of the wedgekeysf, which are driven into the-slots g in the shanks of the staple e, theparts are drawn tightly together and the clamping of the rails at thejoint securely effected. By making the clamp in separate parts, asdescribed, instead of forging the same in one piece, as provided in myformer patent, cheapness and easy replacement of defective parts areeffected, and at the same time greater durability against strain andwear is promoted.

It will be readily understood that the subrail may be of other materialthan scrap trackrail, if preferred, which is also true of like changesin the materials of the other parts, my purpose herein being merely tomention what materials are deemed best or most available, although theinvention,being dependent upon structure, would be wholly unaffected byany mere substitution of one substance for another.

In lieu of wedge-keys f, there may be clamp-nuts on the threaded ends ofthe U- staple, or other like fastening adopted.

Having thus described the invention, what I'claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- l. The sub-rail 0, having its bearingends reduced or flattened, substantially as described. 2. The jaw-pieced and separate n-staple e, encompassing the same, the ends of saidstaple being provided with suitable fastening means, I and cross-ties,of the sub-rail having reduced or whereby in cooperation the track andsub flattened bearing ends, and the clamping derails may be securelyclamped together, subvices for securely holding said rails together,stantially as set forth. substantially as set forth. I 5 5 3. Thecombination,with the track-rails and In testimony whereof witness myhand this oross-ties,of the sub-rail having reduced ends, 28th day ofNovember, A. D. 1883. the jaw-piece to receive the webs of said track land sub rails, the separate staple, and the RICHARD PRICE MORGANfastening devices,(wedge-keys,) substantially Witnesses:

10 as set forth. J AMES H. PEIROE,

4. The combination, with the track-rails L. HoLMBoE.

